Northwest

Volunteer Fire Department fund-drive in progress

Teaky Martin287-4701

Published Tuesday, February 20, 2001

Over 150 volunteers who man the World Golf Village Hall of Fame, greeting and informing visitors from all over the world, were honored at a Champagne Gala Feb. 6. The event was held at the new -- and beautiful -- clubhouse for the newest golf course, called The King (Arnold Palmer) and The Bear (Jack Nicklaus). This second golf course at the World Golf Village and Hall of Fame is located off State Road 16 just south of International Golf Parkway.

Volunteers come from all parts of St. Johns County, from Jacksonville and from the Palm Coast.

The Switzerland Volunteer Fire Department (Station No. 2), which serves northwest St. Johns County communities in Fruit Cove and Switzerland area, is again going house-to-house for its fund drive. The drive benefits everyone, because a donation of $35 will get residents a free professional color photograph, just in time for Easter. So watch for a representative of the fire department to ring your doorbell. Then you can schedule an appointment and the photo will be taken at the new fire station off State Road 13.

Students in the area are always making successful strides. Here is news of two more:

Kate Brower, a seventh-grader at Switzerland Point Middle School, is the winner in the St. Johns County Schools spelling bee, spelling correctly the word ''cornice.''

She'll join 14 other students representing counties in North Florida for a regional spelling bee on March 10. The contest is sponsored by the Florida Times-Union.

At Mill Creek Elementary School, Robbie Hartley is the winner of the Walt Disney World Dreamer and Doer designation for the school -- ''students who give 110 percent to every effort they undertake.'' He will next compete at the county level for the chance to go to Disney World to be recognized by the Walt Disney World Company.

Two new churches are forming in the Roberts Road area.

Feb. 11, the River of Life United Methodist Church held its grand opening. The church will be meeting at Bartram Trail High School, 2050 Roberts Road, at 10 a.m. Sundays. Phone is 230-2955. Another church, Cross Road Community Church, held a special informative meeting Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at Cunningham Creek Elementary School, where they will hold services. Their phone is 262-6590.

Betty Griffin House, the contracted domestic violence and rape crisis service provider for St. Johns County, has joined a consortium, including Hubbard House and the Women's Center of Jacksonville to expand services to ensure Beaches victims of domestic and sexual violence are served. Betty Griffin House may be reached at 280-9898.